Full Service Takeover in an Ames Backyard

If you heard a mellow acoustic rock sound echoing through Munn Woods Wednesday evening it was probably just Full Service an Austin, TX based band that stopped in Ames while on a national tour to promote their rock documentary “Takeover!” about their unconventional path to hopefully fame.

Guitarist and vocalist Tim Kepner “Bonesaw” and Dave Kepner “Hoag” a vocalist and drummer are the nephews of local artist Priscilla Kepner Sage. They played a 90 minute acoustic set for her friends on a night off.

A trailer of the film, you can watch here, said the band spent five years performing independently booked club tours before making plans to “hit the road with 311 and Snoop Dogg.”

“Average attendance 10,000 fans,” an opening screen states. “Only thing is Full Service was never actually invited.”

They performed in parking lot stadiums for tail gaiters through the summer of 2008, which led to serving as an official opening act for 311. Full Service will open for them again on a cruise that leaves Miami May 10.

Unlike the Takeover Tour, Dan DeGeest and Amy Bleyle did agree to host Wednesday's show.

The performance was similar to shows the band performed in May 2011. Instead of touring clubs with their new acoustic music, their Website stated, they sent out an invitation for their fans to host a performance for 20 people at $20 a head or $400, stating that they would perform wherever the fans wanted.

“In your living room, on your deck, we can take a day-hike all together and play on top of a mountain, we can play in your English classroom...,” Kepner wrote.

Wednesday's performance was underneath a deck bordering the edge of Munn Woods. They set up in an open space immediately in front of a playhouse. The watching crowd grew to about 50 people counting joggers who stopped by to see what the noise was and some Full Service fans who learned about the show at the last minute and drove from Marshalltown.